Comments by "Big Blue" (@bigblue6917) on "RAF Shoots Down Drone, First Kill in...Errrr..." video.

I did know about the Jaguar being shot down. As I understand it the Phantom had a jack plug socket in which a jack plug would in inserted before going into combat. This would complete a circuit and allow the missiles to be fired. Because of the closeness the border between West and East Germany it had become standard practice to have the jack plug resting in the socket. So in the event of a sudden attack by the Warsaw Pact the plug could be quickly pushed in to complete the circuit and make the aircraft ready for combat. What was supposed to happen was that the Phantom would intercept the Jaguar and do a mock firing of the missile. But what actually happened was the plug was in far enough for the circuit to be completed and the missile was launched. Fortunately the pilot of the Jaguar managed to eject from the Jaguar. After that the jack plug would no longer be placed into the socket until it was needed. Not sure if the Jaguar pilot got his tie from Martin Baker, the people who made the ejection seat. You are entitles to join an exclusive club of those who had successfully used the ejection seat. This was not the last time the Jaguar pilot ejected from an aircraft as he had to do it again. As I am writing this a thought has occurred to me. In the British military if you are awarded the same medal more then once instead of wearing two medals you would wear a bar across the ribbon of the first medal. So if you are awarded the Military Cross twice it would be the Military Cross and Bar. So having ejected twice was the unfortunate Jaguar pilot awarded the Tie and Bar.
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@JanHgh It would have been interesting. Possibly using a Martin Baker tie pin.😀
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